Eight Undecideds Hold New York Marriage Equality in Their Hands

There are about 20 million New Yorkers. Marriage equality for same-sex couples depends on what just eight of them think, at this point. Eight state senators—three Democrats and five Republicans—say they’re undecided on how they’ll vote when it comes to allowing gay couples to wed. Seven of the eight voted no in 2009. For marriage equality to become law, six of them are going to have to vote yes, if all the senators who say they’ve made up their minds don’t change them.

Editor's Update, 2:30 p.m. : The three undecided Democrats have announced they will support the same-sex marriage bill, reducing the "undecideds" to five Republicans.

There’s just a week left before the scheduled adjournment of the Legislature for the year.

Though Gov. Andrew Cuomo and gay rights groups have said they will not push for a vote unless they are certain of victory—we want to see a vote, regardless. New Yorkers, most of whom now support same sex marriage, deserve to know which side their elected officials are on. Marriage equality will become the law in New York eventually. “Now” seems like the right time.